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How do microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics affect the heart?

This is the question posed by a small Italian study that found that these tiny plastic particles, mostly invisible nanoparticles, were present in the arterial plaques of study participants.

Researchers analyzed 257 people who underwent surgery to remove blocked blood vessels and observed fat buildup within the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain, face, and neck.

Using two methods, they found evidence of nanoplastics in the plaque of 150 patients, but about 107 patients had no evidence of plastic.

Patients were followed for three years, during which time 20% of those who had plastic in their arteries had a heart attack, stroke, or died of any cause, compared to 8% of the group with no trace of plastic. Ta.

It was discovered that published Published in this week’s New England Medical Journal.

“A worrying message”

Researchers also found that people who wear plastic have more inflamed blood vessels than those who don’t, which may put them at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

“We hope that the alarming message from our study will raise awareness among citizens, especially governments, to finally recognize the importance of the health of our planet.” said Dr. Raffaele Malfera of the University of Campania in Italy, who led the study. study.

More research is needed, said Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston University, who contributed an editorial to the journal.

He said this is the first report suggesting a link between microplastics and nanoplastics and human disease.

Other scientists have found plastic debris in lungs, liver, blood, placenta, and breast milk.

“It doesn’t prove causation, but it does suggest a causal relationship,” he said. “And there is an urgent need for this to be replicated or disproved by other studies conducted by other researchers and in other populations.”

practical limitations

“This study is interesting, but it does have quite a few practical limitations,” Dr. Steve Nissen, a heart expert at the Cleveland Clinic, told The Associated Press.

“This is probably a wake-up call that we need to take the issue of microplastics more seriously. As a cause of heart disease? Not proven. As a potential cause? Yes, probably,” he added.

Some of the limitations include that the study only looked at people who already had narrowed arteries, which put them at risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Patients wearing plastic also had more heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol than those without plastic. They were more likely to be male and more likely to be smokers.

This type of observational study also does not prove that plastic causes heart disease in patients. The researchers also said that laboratory contamination could not be ruled out.

“Future studies conducted using clean rooms where no plastic in any form is present other than the materials being studied may confirm our observations,” the researchers said.

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They also didn’t look at variables such as food and drinking water that may be associated with nanoplastics.